Syndicate

HALLANDALE BEACH, FL (Sun., April 4, 2010) – Three 3-year-olds based in South Florida, including two that made their last starts at Gulfstream Park, posted workouts Sunday morning in preparation to run in next Saturday’s $1 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at Oaklawn Park and are expected to board a flight Monday.

Flying Zee Stable’s Pulsion was timed five furlongs in 1:01 flat at Gulfstream for trainer Patrick Biancone as he gets one more chance to earn a berth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs on May 1. The son of Include has finished sixth in both the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1) in two starts this year with some excuses.

Gary and Mary West’s Tiz the One drilled five-eighths in 1:01 3/5 at Palm Meadows for trainer Chad Brown. The son of Tiznow goes into his stakes debut after winning his only two career starts at Gulfstream, a maiden score at six furlongs on Feb. 13 and an ‘a other than’ allowance going one mile on Mar 14 over Allez Reef, who came back for a sharp victory here on Saturday.

Several major stakes runners from trainer Todd Pletcher’s Palm Meadows-based arsenal posted workouts Sunday morning, including WinStar Farm’s Super Saver timed a half-mile in 50 4/5. The son of Maria’s Mon is expected to join Pulsion and Tiz the One in the gate for the Arkansas Derby after finishing a close-up third as the favorite in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) on Mar. 13 in his only start this year.

Also among the Pletcher team workers were WinStar’s Rule and Glencrest Farm’s filly Devil May Care. Rule breezed an easy half-mile in 52 2/5 and goes into the Kentucky Derby after a third-place finish as the favorite in the Florida Derby (G1) on Mar. 20 when beaten 1 ¼ lengths as the favorite by Ice Box. The son of Roman Ruler had won four straight, including the Sam Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa Bay Downs on Feb. 13.

Devil May Care worked a half-mile in 49 flat as she prepares for her next start in the Kentucky Oaks (G1) on Apr. 30 at Churchill. The daughter of Malibu Moon was impressive winning the Bonnie Miss Stakes (G2) by 2 ¾ lengths at Gulfstream on Mar. 20, Florida Derby Day.

Also notable on the Palm Meadows tab Sunday morning was Lael Stable’s homebred Lentenor timed a half-mile in 51 for trainer Michael Matz in his first breeze since a respectable fourth-place finish in the Florida Derby. The full-brother to Barbaro was beaten 5 ¾ lengths for it all in his stakes debut.

‘Elvis’ a Big Hit on the Road Saturday in Tampa

Jockey Elvis Trujillo ranks fourth in the Gulfstream Park standings currently with 43 wins and likely to improve that position in the final three weeks of the session, but made the trip upstate to Tampa Bay Downs Saturday for mounts on the program highlighted by Florida-bred stakes.

The foray proved lucrative as he won three of the events worth $85,000 each, two of them for trainer Marty Wolfson. Trujillo guided Kramer Stables and William Rosenfeld’s 3-year-old Thank U Philippe to a neck victory in the OBS Sophomore Stakes and Denholtz Stable’s 3-year-old filly Dances With Ashley to score by four lengths in the Sophomore Fillies for Wolfson.

Trujillo topped his day off rallying John Eaton and Steve Lymon’s 5-year-old gelding Picou from 11th of 12 to capture the Turf Classic by 3 ¼ lengths for trainer Chad Brown. The son of With Approval was making his first start since finishing third in the Sunshine Millions Turf at Gulfstream on Jan. 30.

Back at Gulfstream leading rider Paco Lopez won two races, including the $125,000 Skip Away Stakes (G3) aboard Jay Em Ess Stable’s 7-year-old gelding Arson Squad for trainer Rick Dutrow as the son of Brahms pushed his career bankroll past the $1 million mark.

Lopez is drawing clear atop the Gulfstream standings with 57 victories going into Sunday’s program with Javier Castellano second at 50 and John Velazquez still third at 46 ahead of Trujillo in fourth. Castellano and Velazquez have completed their South Florida winter campaigns and moved on to ride in Kentucky and New York.

United States & Causeway’s Kin Clash in Thursday Feature

Michael Tabor, Mrs. John Magnier and Derrick Smith’s United States and Estate of Edmund Gann’s Causeway’s Kin are well-bred 4-year-olds that were each impressive breaking their maidens last out at Gulfstream Park and will be the favorites in a field of six entered in Thursday’s ‘a other than’ optional allowance feature at one mile.

Jockey Chris DeCarlo gets the call on United States for leading trainer Todd Pletcher. The A.P. Indy colt drew off to score by nine lengths going a mile here on Mar. 11. A $2 million Keeneland September yearling purchase, United States was making only his second career start after a good third-place try in his debut on Feb. 13.

Jockey Elvis Trujillo rose Causeway’s Kin to break his maiden by 3 ¾ lengths going a mile on Jan. 16 for trainer Marty Wolfson and they team up again Thursday. The homebred chestnut colt is out of Grade 1 winner You and appears to be hitting his best stride as he gets older.